Short answer
Regrouting is worth it when the tile is still solid and only the grout is stained, cracked or crumbling. The old grout is raked out, the joints cleaned, and new grout packed in; corners get fresh silicone. If tiles are loose, sound hollow, or the wall behind is soft or wet, regrouting won't fix it: the shower needs to be opened up. U.S. price guides put a professional shower regrout at about US$600 – $2,500, with most around US$1,500.
Grout is the first part of a tile job to look tired. Regrouting can make a ten-year-old shower look close to new for a fraction of the cost of retiling, as long as the problem really is the grout.
When regrouting is the right fix
- Grout is stained or discoloured and cleaning no longer brings it back.
- There are hairline cracks or small missing sections in otherwise sound grout.
- You want a different grout colour or a more stain-resistant grout, such as epoxy.
- Corners are cracked or mouldy. Often only the silicone in the corners needs replacing.
When it won't work
- Tiles move or sound hollow when tapped. The bond behind them has failed.
- The wall feels soft or flexes, or there are stains or a musty smell on the other side of the wall or on the ceiling below.
- Grout keeps crumbling out in the same area. That usually means water is getting behind the tile.
- The shower was built without a waterproofing membrane. Grout is not waterproof, so new grout only hides the problem. See how showers should be waterproofed.
In those cases the lasting fix is to remove the tile and rebuild with a proper waterproofing system, which is part of our tile repair work.
How a proper regrout is done
- Inspect first. Tap the tiles, check the corners and the tub or base joint, and look for signs of water behind the wall.
- Remove the old grout to a consistent depth: at least two-thirds of the joint, or about 3 mm (⅛ in.), with an oscillating tool or grout saw, without chipping tile edges.
- Clean the joints of dust and loose material and let them dry.
- Pack new grout firmly into the joints with a float, then tool and clean the surface. New grout over a thin skim of old grout does not bond and soon flakes.
- Silicone the movement joints: inside corners, where walls meet the tub or base, and around fixtures. These get flexible sealant, not grout. See why grout cracks in corners.
- Cure, then seal if the grout needs it. Cement grout is usually sealed after it cures; epoxy grout is not.
What regrouting costs
We haven't found published Ottawa prices for regrouting alone, so these are from U.S. price guides (This Old House, 2026), in U.S. dollars:
| Item | Typical cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Regrouting a shower | $600 – $2,500 (most about $1,500) |
| Cement grout, per sq ft | $5 – $7 |
| Epoxy grout, per sq ft | $8 – $12 |
What moves the price: the size of the shower, how narrow the joints are (tight joints and mosaics take longest to rake out), the grout you choose, and whether corners and fixtures need new silicone. We quote regrouting after seeing it, because a quick inspection often shows whether it's a grout job or a waterproofing job.
Regrouting a tile floor
Floors follow the same rules. If grout is cracking in lines across the room, or tiles are cracking too, the subfloor may be flexing, and new grout will crack again. Check the cause first; see why grout cracks.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put new grout over old grout?
Not as a lasting fix. A thin layer of new grout over old grout doesn't bond well and flakes off. The old grout has to be removed to a proper depth first.
How long does a shower regrout take?
Most showers take one to two days of work, then the grout needs to cure before the shower is used. See how long before you can use new tile.
Will regrouting stop my shower leaking?
Only if the leak is at a failed silicone joint or the waterproofing behind the tile is intact. Grout itself isn't waterproof. If water is already behind the tile, the shower needs to be rebuilt.
